Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-06
WATER FOR maNCmEsrER.
Proposition from n Northern Con-
Germ TO furnish 80.

A special meeting OF the Finance
Committee OF the Manchester Coun-
ell was beld in the Council chamber
last night. Present: Measrs. j. u.
Perdue (chairman), E. W. Weisiger,
George Q. Ely. and John OBrien,
Mayor John +. Taylor, City-Attorney
William I. Clopton, and, by invitation,
Mr.. II. De G. Richards, of New York,
manager Of the franchise department
for Ferris & Holiday, contracting en-
eineers for water-works, of Jersey
City. NJ
Chairman Perdue stated that the
meeting was called to consider propo-
sItion made 10y those gentlemen through
Mr.. Richards to establish waterwOrks
and furnish Manchester with water,
and to hear what MIR. Richards had to
say. The paper offered by Mr.. Rich
ards, which was quite o lengthy one,
appeared in the form of n contract be-
tween the city and himself 1t hH
been submitted to Judge Clopton, who
made several changes in it.
The proposition is that the firm will
establish Water-works in or near Man
chester and lay pipes and furnish the
city fifty fre-plugs, not less than fifteen
to any mile of main, and for this the
city is to pay $50 per annum for each
hydrant, the payments TO be made III
monthly instalments. The company
binds itself to furnish, if required.
seventy-fve gallons of water per day
to each resident, and the pressure is TO
be such as to throw from any
three hydrants at one and the same
time through an inch nozzle and fifty
feet of 2I-inch hose three streams to
the height of seventy-fiye feet. Work
is TO begin within six months after the
franchises are granted, and the works
to be completed within fifteen months.
Water will be furnished the public
schools and all other municipal build
ings located on the line Of the pipe
mains. The company is to be exempt
from municipal tax and the city's works
are to be turned over to the company.
The company agrees to subscribe
to any electric alarm system in
use by the Fire Department or
that may be adopted from time to time.
The object of this is that when a fire
occurs notice may be ut once commu-
nicated TO the works and the water be
turned on. The city is given the OPP
ton Of buying the works after ten years
and at the end Of each five years there
after. The firm is given the exclusive
right for thirty years For every by
drant in addition to the fifty SO is to
be paid.
The committee spent some time hear
ing MIR. Richards and in informal con-
sultation, and adjourned at late hour
without taking any action. Mr.. Rich
ards desires speedy action on the part
Of the committee in order that the
Council may be allowed to pass on the
proposition before he returns North.
it is probable that the committee will
in the mean time consider the subject
and report at the regular meeting OF
the Council, to be held on Friday night
the nth instant.
Mayor Taylor, who had been in cor
respondence with this and other con
Germs on the subject OF water-WorkS,
said that he had been to Washington
and seen Hon. Washington Mclean,
who owns the Spring-Hill property, and
be agreed that part of his property
may be used as site for the tank.
Mayor Taylor has taken a lively inte-
res in this, rs he docs in all matters
relating to Manchester's lysncement
and prosperity.
The idea Of this firm is to have a
large water-tank to hold about 800, 600
gallons on Spring Hill and have a
steam pump on the rivers edge near the
battery. The water Will be carried
through the stand-pipes to the tank by
direct pressure from the pump. In
case of fire the force will be applied
in that direction.